Science activities for the busy teacher.
This blog will be participating in the A to Z challenge for April 2016. Posts are abbreviated for visitors. Pertinent links for more in-depth information are provided. Warning to non-teachers, comments will get very honest answers concerning anything unsafe to do in a classroom. Teachers would not take it personal. Neither should you. Safety is first.

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Monday, March 21, 2016

The Dog Ate My Homework

My post for the A to Z theme reveal is a might late. My theme is

Environmental Science Facts.

The most aggravating thing a student ever did was interrupt me in class. Then paused as if he was giving me a pass and said, "that was my opinion and it was OK." I was defining the difference between niche and habitat.

Somewhere, somehow, Rush Limbaugh comes to mind, conservation has become political. I ask why. A healthy environment affects all of us. When they say an incident would increase say a cancer risk by 1 in 10,000, it means 1 person who would never get cancer out of 10,000 gets cancer.

The Flint water crisis is part of this. Just because you can't see the lead in water does not mean it does not have an affect.

So this post is my activism.

The following posts are just the facts of environmental education. No preaching. Just facts.

I like your theme and I like how you will be stating the facts and educating us rather than "preaching" things; looking forward to reading your posts.

(In response to your comment on my blog, yes we did get rid of a lot of things, not much since we didn't have much. The movers estimate our weight of things to be 4800; of that I'm thinking 40% of it is hubby's musical things, amps, recording equipment, etc, and that doesn't count the 12 guitars he'll be transporting himself, not entrusting them to the moving company. I could easily live in a one bedroom apartment; but I'm married to a musician :)

"Conservation has become political"—YES! And more; not just conservation but science itself. Sometimes it feels like we're moving backwards, into the Dark Ages—when belief, not facts, ruled, and "truth" was taken on faith rather than on the scientific method. So YES, I'll be looking forward to your posts. Eagerly.

Thanks for the visit over at Life In Dogs earlier, and for the lovely comment. You made my day :)

Safety Always

These activities are chosen and designed to be safe. The nature of an accident is it is not planned. Water is a very safe substance. Spill water on the floor, someone can slip and fall. The greatest safety rule is to Think before you Do.

I taught science for over 30 years. I had a few accidents in the classroom. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Purchasing a set of safety glasses at the dollar store is a good investment. I know parents, schools, etc shouldn't ask you to buy such. Life is all too real. If someone got hurt, you would have immense guilt.

Know your audience. There is a balance between a math teacher too afraid to let a group of students use a compass because it has a sharp point and the free for all approach some teachers use.

I've got a safety contract that I used in the classroom. Feel free to use it. The shorter and clearer the rule, the more compliance you will get. If you have that child or parent that you have to think like a Philadelphia lawyer around, realize it is an opportunity to deliver your instruction more clearly and safely.

I will post any warnings or cautions that I can think when making the posts. However, I cannot be responsible for what happens in your classroom or home. Use any of these activities at your own risk.